Sheila C. Johnson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose accomplishments span the arenas of hospitality, sports, TV/film, the arts, and humanitarian causes.

Ms. Johnson is CEO of Salamander Hospitality, LLC, overseeing a growing portfolio of luxury properties and lifestyle businesses. As President & Managing Partner of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and a partner in Lincoln Holdings, LLC, Ms. Johnson is the first African-American woman to have a stake in three professional sports teams, including the Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Capitals (NHL). She is also a TV pioneer, having been a founding partner of BET (Black Entertainment Television) and the creator of the award-winning program Teen Summit. Currently, Ms. Johnson is creating and championing films with a humanitarian message. Her latest film, A Powerful Noise, premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

A dedicated activist, Ms. Johnson serves as a Global Ambassador for CARE, whose mission is to fight global poverty. Her focus is building solidarity and empowering women and girls to become catalysts for change in communities around the world. An accomplished violinist and avid sponsor of the arts, Johnson dedicates her time to organizations that give children and young adults the opportunity to express their creativity. She presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design and sits on the boards of VH1 Save the Music, Americans for the Arts, the Curry School of Education Foundation at the University of Virginia, and the University of Illinois Foundation. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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